Progress M-66 atop Soyuz-U on February 10, 2009

[SiberianTiger]

The launch site: Baikonur

The launch time is:
10:49:46 Baikonur 10.02.2009
08:49:46 MST 10.02.2009
05:49:46 UTC Feb 10, 2009
12:49:46 a.m. EST Feb 10, 2009

Progress M-66 (production #366) will launch on February 10 from the launch Complex 31 of Baikonur Spaceport, which was recently rebuilt to accommodate manned launches along with unmanned ones.

The expected docking date and time will become available a week before the event.

On January 28, 2009, An exposure operation for the Progress M-66 Solar Arrays has been carried out:

As of January 29, prelaunch activities with Soyuz-U and Progress M-66 continued. Progress cargo loading operation has started today at site 254.
Orlan-MK, equipment, food and consumables were loaded. After the cargo accommodation is finished, the Progress` cargo compartment will be sealed.
Then, the Progress` propulsion system will be prepared for prop filling.
Late cargo access is to be performed on Feb. 9 at the launch pad. Habitation compartment of the vehicle will be loaded with fresh vegetables and fruits.

 

[SiberianTiger]

03-02-2008 The Progress M-66 spacecraft, now filled up with propellants and pressured gases, is being transported to the final assembly row:

 

[SiberianTiger]

04-02-2009 Progress M-66 Prelaunch Processing: According to the Schedule

Today, expert groups of Russian space industrial companies started assembly of the upper composite in building 254. The cargo compartment was integrated with the adapter, which is to be mated with the launcher.
Tomorrow, prior to fairing incapsulation, Progress M-66 final inspection is to take place. Then, the upper composite will be transported to site 31 for further assembly with the launcher.
In addition, prelaunch processing of launch pad 31 was completed today. This time Soyuz-U/Progress M-66 will be launched from pad 31 (instead of launch pad 1).
Roll-out is planned for Feb. 8.
Soyuz-U with Progress M-66 aboard is to lift-off on Dec. 10, 2009, at 8:49 Moscow time.

 

[MajorTom]

Nice pix, Siberian Tiger.

The third picture from Feb 3 appears to show Korolev up on the wall of the assembly area. What is he saying?

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

It always makes me laugh that the Americans all insist on wearing paper protective clothing, hair nets, beard covers, shoe covers & gloves when around their space modules

But yet it would appear the Russians are not as concerned with it, apart from the few white coats.

I'm wondering if all that American paper clothing is really necessary

 

[tblaxland]

I'm wondering if all that American paper clothing is really necessary

You are comparing an essentially sealed spacecraft with an open station module. Here is a Progress being loaded, note the headgear (but, OK, no face masks):

 

[SiberianTiger]

Nice pix, Siberian Tiger.

The third picture from Feb 3 appears to show Korolev up on the wall of the assembly area. What is he saying?

He is saying: The Road to Stars is open


-----Post Added-----

The launch site: Baikonur

The launch time is:
10:49:43 Baikonur 10.02.2009
08:49:43 MST 10.02.2009
05:49:43 UTC Feb 10, 2009
12:49:43 a.m. EST Feb 10, 2009

08-02-2009 LV «Soyuz-U»-«Progress M-66» Roll Out (photos)

There are some nice hazy photos down there:

It's looking monster-like in this fog.

 

[kklim]

Nice pics, Siberian Tiger. Where did you get them?

 

[SiberianTiger]

Nice pics, Siberian Tiger. Where did you get them?

Roscosmos


-----Post Added-----


The streaming video link (Russian narrated):
http://www.vesti.ru/video1.asx?vid=onair

The launch video report will become available at:
08:49 MST 10.02.2009
05:49 UTC Feb 10, 2009
12:49 a.m. EST Feb 10, 2009

 

[tblaxland]

Liftoff!


-----Post Added-----


Well that was about the shortest launch coverage I've ever seen - it didn't even last until booster sep before cutting to network ads!

 

[SiberianTiger]

Well that was about the shortest launch coverage I've ever seen - it didn't even last until booster sep before cutting to network ads!

Sure. Making money can't wait a sec.

The same video replay is available at http://tvroscosmos.ru/frm/kosmostv/vesti/2009/vesti100209.php
(a better video usually follows in two days)

The Progress is reported to be in good shape while in orbit.


-----Post Added-----


VIDEO! It's here, in better quality. A very rare point from where the footage was taken (I only remember still images taken from it).

http://tvroscosmos.ru/picture_library/video/start_38.wmv

A pity that the rocket disappears so fast, being obscured by the overcast.

Baikonur is now rising the barrel for a second shot. Let's wait for tonight's double Express satellite launch.

 

[tblaxland]

Thanks for the video links.

The Express launch should be just about the right time for my mid-morning coffee break . Will that be on Vesti too?

 

[SiberianTiger]

Thanks for the video links.

The Express launch should be just about the right time for my mid-morning coffee break . Will that be on Vesti too?

Yes, at 3 minutes past midnight (UTC).

 

[kklim]

Thanks for the links.
Missed the launch though and will probably miss the Express launch too, sadly...

 

[SiberianTiger]

Progress-M66 has docked to the ISS on Friday, 13!
Some featured videos are on that page:
http://tvroscosmos.ru/frm/kosmostv/vesti/2009/vesti130209.php

 

[SiberianTiger]

http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showpost.php?p=94835&postcount=236

The Progress 32 undocked from the ISS yesterday (May 6) @ 3.18pm UTC. It will re-enter and burn up in Earth's atmosphere on Mon May 18. It has been on the ISS since Feb 13.

To add to this, the spacecraft will be used as an asset in the Plasma-Progress experiment in the time remaining to its deorbiting.

 

[SiberianTiger]

http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=07&month=05&year=2009

ISS COMPANION: This morning, May 7th, the International Space Station flew directly over the Netherlands. Astronomer Ralf Vandebergh was watching and noticed, about 90 seconds later, another spacecraft following the ISS. He photographed the pair using his backyard 10-inch telescope:

"The second spacecraft was the Progress 32 rocket, which undocked from the ISS yesterday," he says. The Russian rocket delivered a load of supplies to the ISS in February and now it is taking away a load of trash. The Progress and its contents are scheduled to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and disintegrate over the Pacific Ocean on May 18th. Meanwhile, the rocket can be seen tagging along behind the ISS;

Fine pic, but why a Progess is called a rocket? Well, it is a rocket in a way...

 

[SiberianTiger]

According to Roscosmos, Progress M-66 will be deorbited today and disintegrate over the Southern Pacific Ocean.

Planned deorbit burn time:
18:28:30 Moscow DT 18.05.2009
14:28:30 UTC May 18, 2009

Expected debris fall time:
19:14:45 Moscow DT 18.05.2009
15:14:45 UTC May 18, 2009

---------- Post added at 10:45 ---------- Previous post was Yesterday at 15:10 ----------

RIP @ S 42°34` W 139°24`